Incheon City to Provide Up to 500,000 KRW Disaster Living Expenses for Freelancers and Unpaid Leave Workers

200 Billion KRW Invested in COVID-19 Regional Employment Response Special Support Project
Online Applications from the 10th, On-site Applications from the 20th to the 1st of Next Month

Incheon City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City will provide special support funds of up to 500,000 KRW to special-type workers (special contract workers) such as after-school instructors and study material teachers who are unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as freelancers and unpaid leave workers.

The city announced on the 10th that it will urgently invest 20 billion KRW in the COVID-19 Regional Employment Response Special Support Project to provide living expenses to special-type workers, freelancers, and unpaid leave workers.

First, the living expense support targets for special-type workers and freelancers must have their resident registration in Incheon and must be confirmed as special-type workers or freelancers through objectively verifiable documents such as service contracts for at least three months within the past year.

Additionally, those who are not enrolled in employment insurance and who have been unable to provide labor for five or more days or have experienced a sharp decrease in income from the serious stage of the national infectious disease crisis alert level (February 23) until the end of last month are eligible. According to health insurance premium standards, workplace subscribers must have a monthly premium of 160,546 KRW or less, and regional subscribers must have 160,865 KRW or less.

The support fund will be paid by charging the Incheon e-eum card (consumption coupon) at 25,000 KRW per day based on the number of days unable to work, up to a maximum of 500,000 KRW. However, in cases of sharp income reduction, payments will be made differentially according to the income reduction rate (250,000 KRW for 25-50% reduction, 375,000 KRW for 50-75% reduction, and 500,000 KRW for 75-100% reduction).

Special-type workers include after-school and academy instructors, study material teachers, cultural center, community center, and sports instructors, tour guides, interpreters, performing artists, child caregivers, nursing care workers, caregivers, disability activity supporters, hair designers, water purifier coordinators, meter readers, A/S technicians, as well as workers in transportation and logistics services, retail sales, and IT fields.

The city stated that delivery and quick service drivers are excluded considering the business conditions.

The city will also provide living expenses to unpaid leave workers at workplaces where operations have been fully or partially suspended due to COVID-19.

This applies to unpaid leave workers registered as residents in Incheon, and payments of 25,000 KRW per day, up to 500,000 KRW, will be made via the Incheon e-eum card according to the number of unpaid leave days.

Eligibility requirements include workers who have taken unpaid leave for five or more days from the serious stage of the national infectious disease crisis alert level (February 23) until the end of last month, workers employed at workplaces with fewer than 50 employees who are enrolled in employment insurance, and those whose health insurance premium standards are 160,546 KRW or less for workplace subscribers and 160,865 KRW or less for regional subscribers.

Special employment support industries designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and water transport and air transport-related industries will also be supported for workplaces with 50 or more employees, considering the characteristics of the Incheon region, while youth-harmful businesses are excluded from support.

Support for special-type workers, freelancers, and unpaid leave workers can be applied for separately from the 'Incheon-type Emergency Disaster Relief Fund.' However, recipients of employment retention support funds, family care allowances, unemployment benefits, and those hospitalized or quarantined for 14 days or more due to COVID-19 under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act are excluded.

In addition, for unpaid leave worker support, spouses of business owners and blood relatives or relatives within the fourth degree are excluded from the business target due to reasons such as duplicate receipt.

Online applications can be submitted on the Incheon City website from the 10th to May 1st, and on-site applications can be made from the 20th to May 1st at the relevant eup/myeon/dong administrative welfare centers or separate reception offices by district or county. Required documents and related forms can be checked on the city website.

Kim Sangseop, Head of the Incheon City Job Economy Headquarters, said, "We hope this small amount will help special-type workers, freelancers, and unpaid leave workers who have experienced a sharp decrease in income due to COVID-19 but have not received support," and urged, "Please use internet applications through the city website as much as possible to practice social distancing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.